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Maiden Lane #2
Notorious Pleasures
Their lives were perfect . . . Lady Hero Batten, the beautiful sister of the Duke of Wakefield, has everything a woman could want, including the perfect fiance. True, the Marquis of Mandeville is a trifle dull and has no sense of humor, but that doesn't bother Hero. Until she meets his notorious brother . . . Until they met each other. Griffin Remmington, Lord Reading, is far from perfect - and he likes it that way. How he spends his days is a mystery, but all of London knows he engages in the worst sorts of drunken revelry at night. Hero takes an instant dislike to him, and Griffin thinks that Hero, with her charities and faultless manners, is much too impeccable for society, let alone his brother. Yet their near-constant battle of wits soon sparks desire - desire that causes their carefully constructed worlds to come tumbling down. As Hero's wedding nears, and Griffin's enemies lay plans to end their dreams forever, can two imperfect people find perfect true love?
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2011
About the author
Elizabeth Hoyt
40 books6,988 followersElizabeth Hoyt is a New York Times bestselling author of historical romance. She also writes deliciously fun contemporary romance under the name Julia Harper. Elizabeth lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with three untrained dogs and one long-suffering husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,224 reviews
October 17, 2020
For me, very few aspects sours a book faster than the Hs having smex time with OW/OM; still, if the author must include such, it HAS to be a fade to black.
Unfortunately, the reader's first glimpse of, Griffin, our H, is of him having a romp with a married woman. Worse is that he was found in flagrante by none other than the heroine, Hero.
Bad intro for sure, yet I held out hope that the rest of the book would slough away that awkward scene.
Except, it got worse.
• Hero was engaged to Griffin's brother
• Griffin finds he's falling in love with Hero
• Neither of them do the right thing
• Eventually they have sex.
• Bibi was not a happy camper.
Overall, I think the author introduced too much forced angst which made the plot convoluted and dreary.
DNF @ 80%.
December 29, 2015
5 STARS
This one was a total winner for me! Loved it from beginning to end.
Lord Griffin Reading was somewhat of an arrogant arse... which I'm sure is why I loved him so much. Don't ask me why, buy I am just enamored by the total jerks in these books. His dirty mouth could light a glacier on fire. Sexy as fuck. That is all I can say.
Lady Hero Batten was one classy chick, who knew how to handle herself. At least until she was in the presence of him.
I was a little surprised by the lack of Lady H's will power against his intense seduction, especially for a virgin... but hey, who am I to judge. I would have crumbled even sooner, no doubt. Hell... that carriage scene... fuck.
The ghost of St. Giles is lurking about, and there were a few more clues about his identity. And there was a good introduction into the next book as well.
No complaints with this one. Can't wait for the next book!
This one was a total winner for me! Loved it from beginning to end.
Lord Griffin Reading was somewhat of an arrogant arse... which I'm sure is why I loved him so much. Don't ask me why, buy I am just enamored by the total jerks in these books. His dirty mouth could light a glacier on fire. Sexy as fuck. That is all I can say.
"I dare," he muttered, "because I'm selfish and black-hearted and vain. I dare because you are what you are and I am what I am. I dare because I cannot otherwise. I've lived too long without bread or wine, crawling desperate in a lonely, barren desert, and you, my darling Lady Perfect, are manna sent directly from heaven above."
He wanted to imprint himself upon her. To make her acknowledge that he was more than simply a friend or a potential brother-in-law. To ensure she never forgot him. He wanted to engrave himself upon her very bones.
Lady Hero Batten was one classy chick, who knew how to handle herself. At least until she was in the presence of him.
I was a little surprised by the lack of Lady H's will power against his intense seduction, especially for a virgin... but hey, who am I to judge. I would have crumbled even sooner, no doubt. Hell... that carriage scene... fuck.
"You say my name like a lover, so soft, so sweet. I want to lick the word from your lips, sip the exhaled breath from your mouth. I want to possess you utterly. Right now. Right here."
The ghost of St. Giles is lurking about, and there were a few more clues about his identity. And there was a good introduction into the next book as well.
No complaints with this one. Can't wait for the next book!
February 6, 2017
Not as good as the first one, but I still liked it.
Our female's name is Hero and the male is... shit, forgot his name already. Let's just call him Bad-Brother, or BB for short.
So, Hero meets BB by walking in on him sticking it to a married woman at her engagement party. Engagement to his brother. Apparently, something must have been impressive because after this meeting, Hero is all aflutter over little brother and can't stay away from him. I'm guessing that little brother isn't so little, if you catch my drift.
(in case you didn't catch my drift)
Of course, Hero is an idiot. She continues to string big brother along while traipsing all around the slums with BB. BB is a bad brother, hence the name, and decides he will start sticking it to his bro's fiance now. Apparently BB decided that the 10 Commandments were more like a bucket list than a list of no-no's because he pretty much runs the gauntlet on this thing.
Biblical Buzzfeed
I like this world because there is a lot more going on than just the romance angle of things. Many of the side-characters are so well developed that I find myself eager for their stories, and I actually feel a bit invested in the little world of Maiden Lane. I especially can't wait for the pirate book. I'm so all over that!
What I didn't like was the cheating. I have this outrageous thought that a decent person should simply break-up with their last SO before screwing the next guy. I know, I know... so picky! Overall, I didn't fall in love with these main characters, but I still liked the story very much.
Our female's name is Hero and the male is... shit, forgot his name already. Let's just call him Bad-Brother, or BB for short.
So, Hero meets BB by walking in on him sticking it to a married woman at her engagement party. Engagement to his brother. Apparently, something must have been impressive because after this meeting, Hero is all aflutter over little brother and can't stay away from him. I'm guessing that little brother isn't so little, if you catch my drift.
(in case you didn't catch my drift)
Of course, Hero is an idiot. She continues to string big brother along while traipsing all around the slums with BB. BB is a bad brother, hence the name, and decides he will start sticking it to his bro's fiance now. Apparently BB decided that the 10 Commandments were more like a bucket list than a list of no-no's because he pretty much runs the gauntlet on this thing.
Biblical Buzzfeed
I like this world because there is a lot more going on than just the romance angle of things. Many of the side-characters are so well developed that I find myself eager for their stories, and I actually feel a bit invested in the little world of Maiden Lane. I especially can't wait for the pirate book. I'm so all over that!
What I didn't like was the cheating. I have this outrageous thought that a decent person should simply break-up with their last SO before screwing the next guy. I know, I know... so picky! Overall, I didn't fall in love with these main characters, but I still liked the story very much.
November 23, 2016
"How romantic," she drawled in a bored, social voice that set his teeth on edge, "to think that love has anything to do with marriage."
Our heroine, Hero (I'll pause to let you work that one out), is another woman of her time, thinking marriages are for enhancing your family and sex is for men and their mistresses. Our hero, Heroine, just kidding, Griffin, has somewhat erroneously bore the ne'er-do-well family title. He's the second born but manages the family finances and set them up in the illegal gin business. Hero is engaged to Griffin's brother Thomas who thinks Griffin seduced his first wife, Hero's brother Wakefield is on a crusade to destroy all gin makers, Griffin is fighting off a rival gin maker, Thomas is fighting his love for his mistress, Hero's little sister Phoebe is going blind, and oh, with all that, Griffin and Hero are falling into sex, err, love, I mean love.
But he knew. Oh, yes, he knew---he was in over his head and sinking fast.
This story felt a little bit like a throwback to the old 80 and 90's, not quite full bodice ripper but there were melodramatics happening alongside numerous boot knocking scenes. I feel a little traitorous but the many sex scenes detracted from the story for me instead of making me feel the closeness of Griffin and Hero. I'm going to put some of the blame on my personal distaste for how Hero was engaged to Griffin's brother and still proclaiming to marry him until very late in the story; both Griffin and Hero's actions felt pretty icky to me. The author worked hard to make Thomas, if not villainous, pretty unlikable until the very end where she tried to redeem him through a love story, didn't work for me.
There was something else here as well. It was a terrible sorrow, a welling joy, as if all the emotion she'd ever held in check or pushed away was suddenly rising to the surface. She couldn't control her face, couldn't control her body. She was coming apart, and she'd never be able to pin herself back together again.
With the brother between them, I just had a hard time really warming up to Hero and Griffin as a couple; separately I thought they were good characters. The sex scenes became over played and I started to skim them a tiny bit, there were so many, but again my dislike could come from dang Thomas not being shoved out earlier. The gin story plot felt more like an introduction for Hero's brother Wakefield, his aggressive stance against it. The danger Griffin faced because of it (the villain wasn't given near enough pages to feel flushed out) and how it ended felt glossed over.
The surrounding world and characters felt full and real and I really liking Hoyt's London. I've already read Phoebe's story, so seeing glimpses of her here broke my heart but knowing what's in story helped to heal it. The secondary Silence story makes an appearance again and I can't wait to read about her and Charming Mickey.
Our heroine, Hero (I'll pause to let you work that one out), is another woman of her time, thinking marriages are for enhancing your family and sex is for men and their mistresses. Our hero, Heroine, just kidding, Griffin, has somewhat erroneously bore the ne'er-do-well family title. He's the second born but manages the family finances and set them up in the illegal gin business. Hero is engaged to Griffin's brother Thomas who thinks Griffin seduced his first wife, Hero's brother Wakefield is on a crusade to destroy all gin makers, Griffin is fighting off a rival gin maker, Thomas is fighting his love for his mistress, Hero's little sister Phoebe is going blind, and oh, with all that, Griffin and Hero are falling into sex, err, love, I mean love.
But he knew. Oh, yes, he knew---he was in over his head and sinking fast.
This story felt a little bit like a throwback to the old 80 and 90's, not quite full bodice ripper but there were melodramatics happening alongside numerous boot knocking scenes. I feel a little traitorous but the many sex scenes detracted from the story for me instead of making me feel the closeness of Griffin and Hero. I'm going to put some of the blame on my personal distaste for how Hero was engaged to Griffin's brother and still proclaiming to marry him until very late in the story; both Griffin and Hero's actions felt pretty icky to me. The author worked hard to make Thomas, if not villainous, pretty unlikable until the very end where she tried to redeem him through a love story, didn't work for me.
There was something else here as well. It was a terrible sorrow, a welling joy, as if all the emotion she'd ever held in check or pushed away was suddenly rising to the surface. She couldn't control her face, couldn't control her body. She was coming apart, and she'd never be able to pin herself back together again.
With the brother between them, I just had a hard time really warming up to Hero and Griffin as a couple; separately I thought they were good characters. The sex scenes became over played and I started to skim them a tiny bit, there were so many, but again my dislike could come from dang Thomas not being shoved out earlier. The gin story plot felt more like an introduction for Hero's brother Wakefield, his aggressive stance against it. The danger Griffin faced because of it (the villain wasn't given near enough pages to feel flushed out) and how it ended felt glossed over.
The surrounding world and characters felt full and real and I really liking Hoyt's London. I've already read Phoebe's story, so seeing glimpses of her here broke my heart but knowing what's in story helped to heal it. The secondary Silence story makes an appearance again and I can't wait to read about her and Charming Mickey.
August 16, 2017
🌟🌟5 Incredible Stars!🌟🌟🌟
London, 1737
“You say my name like a lover, so soft, so sweet. I want to lick the word from your lips, sip the exhaled breath from your mouth. I want to possess you utterly. Right now. Right here.”
I'm convinced.
Elizabeth Hoyt writes magic. She has a magical, unicorn laptop and when she types the words just somehow magically appears and combines to make a fabulous story.
I'm convinced that only adjectives can adequately describe this book:
-Sensual
-Chivalrous
-Sexy
-Arousing (Holy hell the steam in this book!)
-Electrifying
-Adventurous
-Passionate
-Wicked
-Delightful
From the opening scene to the very last page I was enraptured in this intriguing story. I LOVED it and everything about it. The characters, the story, the romance...it is well deserving of 5 stars.
If you haven't started this series yet I don't know how many times I can scream at the top of my lungs: "READ THIS SERIES!" You're in for an adventure of a lifetime.
______________________________________________________________
Not sure how I've read the other 11 books in this series and managed to skip this one.
London, 1737
“You say my name like a lover, so soft, so sweet. I want to lick the word from your lips, sip the exhaled breath from your mouth. I want to possess you utterly. Right now. Right here.”
I'm convinced.
Elizabeth Hoyt writes magic. She has a magical, unicorn laptop and when she types the words just somehow magically appears and combines to make a fabulous story.
I'm convinced that only adjectives can adequately describe this book:
-Sensual
-Chivalrous
-Sexy
-Arousing (Holy hell the steam in this book!)
-Electrifying
-Adventurous
-Passionate
-Wicked
-Delightful
From the opening scene to the very last page I was enraptured in this intriguing story. I LOVED it and everything about it. The characters, the story, the romance...it is well deserving of 5 stars.
If you haven't started this series yet I don't know how many times I can scream at the top of my lungs: "READ THIS SERIES!" You're in for an adventure of a lifetime.
______________________________________________________________
Not sure how I've read the other 11 books in this series and managed to skip this one.
November 20, 2016
*** 4 ***
A buddy read with the incurable romantics at the MacHalos! We need more love in our lives:-)
This is the second book in the Historical Romance Series of Maiden Lane. The first introduced us to the seedy neighborhood of Saint Giles in London in the seventeen hundreds. This one picks up about 7 months later and Lady Hero, the brave and gentile sister of a Duke we got to know, who won our hearts by investing into the urchin children's home, meets a scoundrel, Griffin. At first, the sparks that fly are not of love, but of disapproval and the compromising position he is in, while on top of a married lady, does not do anything for Hero to develop respect for him. Thus, our Lady thanks her lucky stars that she is getting engaged to Griffin's brother Thomas, instead of the cad.
Thomas is a stick in the mud Marquis, who is a friend with Lady Hero's brother and the marriage is a contract between titled families, not a love match, but she hopes that love will come with time. Meanwhile however, she has to spend time with his family, which includes Griffin and things are very strained and stressful between them. Of course, there is the fact that Griffin is sexy, easy going, flirtatious, interesting, attentive and all those very attractive to the ladies qualities that make bad boys so very tempting!!! And she happens to be beautiful and rich, and kind, and inquisitive, and compassionate, and charitable, and all those other qualities that drive rakes to distraction, and tempt them to a point they might even consider settling down.. maybe... eventually...
So, the two of them get to spend a lot of time together, mostly attempting to keep it on the down low, because the world seems to be telling them that they should stay away from each other. But their attraction can not be denied and they keep finding ways to be together, despite having all the reasons to stay apart.
This was very well set up story, beautifully written and with some very exciting moments. The love story was very appropriate for the time period and the author dealt perfectly with the assumptions of the era while bringing a fresh, more relatable perspective to it. A perfect read for the fans of Romance!!!
I wish you all Happy Reading and may your heart overflow with love!!!
A buddy read with the incurable romantics at the MacHalos! We need more love in our lives:-)
This is the second book in the Historical Romance Series of Maiden Lane. The first introduced us to the seedy neighborhood of Saint Giles in London in the seventeen hundreds. This one picks up about 7 months later and Lady Hero, the brave and gentile sister of a Duke we got to know, who won our hearts by investing into the urchin children's home, meets a scoundrel, Griffin. At first, the sparks that fly are not of love, but of disapproval and the compromising position he is in, while on top of a married lady, does not do anything for Hero to develop respect for him. Thus, our Lady thanks her lucky stars that she is getting engaged to Griffin's brother Thomas, instead of the cad.
Thomas is a stick in the mud Marquis, who is a friend with Lady Hero's brother and the marriage is a contract between titled families, not a love match, but she hopes that love will come with time. Meanwhile however, she has to spend time with his family, which includes Griffin and things are very strained and stressful between them. Of course, there is the fact that Griffin is sexy, easy going, flirtatious, interesting, attentive and all those very attractive to the ladies qualities that make bad boys so very tempting!!! And she happens to be beautiful and rich, and kind, and inquisitive, and compassionate, and charitable, and all those other qualities that drive rakes to distraction, and tempt them to a point they might even consider settling down.. maybe... eventually...
So, the two of them get to spend a lot of time together, mostly attempting to keep it on the down low, because the world seems to be telling them that they should stay away from each other. But their attraction can not be denied and they keep finding ways to be together, despite having all the reasons to stay apart.
This was very well set up story, beautifully written and with some very exciting moments. The love story was very appropriate for the time period and the author dealt perfectly with the assumptions of the era while bringing a fresh, more relatable perspective to it. A perfect read for the fans of Romance!!!
I wish you all Happy Reading and may your heart overflow with love!!!
July 6, 2017
What do you do when you finish the Huge Saga that is the Wheel of Time series? Well if you are me you binge read a bunch of Historical Romances and splash a little smut into the mix.
Okay so I really enjoyed the first book in this series and then I started this one thinking I’d made a horrible mistake. This starts off with two things that I really don’t care for in my books and so right off the bat it had two strikes against it.
#1 – I hated the meet cute (that the moment that the main love interest characters are introduced). This isn’t a spoiler because it happens on page 1 of the book. Hero meets Griffin when she ducks into a room to fix a stocking and catches him balls deep in a married woman. She then thinks about how nice his ass is and how virile he appears. WTF. But she helps the couple from being caught by the woman’s husband who was just in the hall. Props for it being a bit different but it pretty much made me hate Griffin from the beginning.
#2 – The man Hero is intended to marry is Griffin’s brother. I rarely like a romance where siblings are vying for the same woman. Now granted neither Thomas nor Hero claim to be in love, in fact this is just a contractual marriage but still it isn’t my favorite trope at all.
So you’d think after those two strikes in the beginning that I’d hate the rest of the story. But it grew on me quite a bit. You have to love the idea of reforming a scandalous rake into wanting just one woman and not caring about bedding everything with two legs anymore.
I started out hating Griffin but then he was just so damn likeable later. He really was charming and listened to Hero. You could see why she and Thomas were going to be all wrong for each other and how Griffin cared about her thoughts and feelings and really liked the individual she was.
So while this all started off pretty rough and there were/are moment in it I didn’t really care for since it is brother against brother I started to really enjoy Hero and Griffin as a couple later in the book. Griffin even gets a great speech near the end with Hero’s brother that I thought was fantastic and made him much more likable later.
Overall not my favorite of the series so far but I do like to go in order so on to Silence and the Pirate.
Okay so I really enjoyed the first book in this series and then I started this one thinking I’d made a horrible mistake. This starts off with two things that I really don’t care for in my books and so right off the bat it had two strikes against it.
#1 – I hated the meet cute (that the moment that the main love interest characters are introduced). This isn’t a spoiler because it happens on page 1 of the book. Hero meets Griffin when she ducks into a room to fix a stocking and catches him balls deep in a married woman. She then thinks about how nice his ass is and how virile he appears. WTF. But she helps the couple from being caught by the woman’s husband who was just in the hall. Props for it being a bit different but it pretty much made me hate Griffin from the beginning.
#2 – The man Hero is intended to marry is Griffin’s brother. I rarely like a romance where siblings are vying for the same woman. Now granted neither Thomas nor Hero claim to be in love, in fact this is just a contractual marriage but still it isn’t my favorite trope at all.
So you’d think after those two strikes in the beginning that I’d hate the rest of the story. But it grew on me quite a bit. You have to love the idea of reforming a scandalous rake into wanting just one woman and not caring about bedding everything with two legs anymore.
“Then you’ve never been in love?”
“Never.”
She nodded. “Nor have I.”
“A pity,” he said, pursing his lips. “I wonder how it would feel? To be swept away by a grand passion? To give everything for only one person in the world?”
Her lips curved wryly. “So idealistic for a rake. Really, you do spoil my prior understanding of what the word entailed.”
“This is my social face,” he said lightly. “Don’t confuse it with the animal beneath.”
I started out hating Griffin but then he was just so damn likeable later. He really was charming and listened to Hero. You could see why she and Thomas were going to be all wrong for each other and how Griffin cared about her thoughts and feelings and really liked the individual she was.
So while this all started off pretty rough and there were/are moment in it I didn’t really care for since it is brother against brother I started to really enjoy Hero and Griffin as a couple later in the book. Griffin even gets a great speech near the end with Hero’s brother that I thought was fantastic and made him much more likable later.
Overall not my favorite of the series so far but I do like to go in order so on to Silence and the Pirate.
July 31, 2015
Notorious Pleasures is the perfect example of a great story destroyed by annoying secondary characters. I would have given this 4 or 5 stars if only Thomas, the hero's older brother to which the heroine was engaged, did not exist.
Thomas was a lying, cheating hypocrite. He put up this air of perfection and morality, when in fact, he has less morals than a 10-year-old. He was such a bitch to Griffin, the hero. He had the gall to lecture him about being a gentleman when he was far, far from being one! For example, he never planned on leaving his mistress even though he was going to marry Lady Hero.
Here's what he said to his mistress:
And then he guiltripped Griffin and Lady Hero because of their budding attraction to each other. What a fucker.
This was such a waste, really. I loved Lady Hero. Others didn't like her priggish and uptight nature, but I did. I think it's because I'm really prudish and priggish in real life so I can relate to her. Griffin was delicious and amazing as well. It took me a while to get over my instant dislike of him (because of what he did in the first chapter) but he redeemed himself wonderfully in the story.
Unfortunately, my love for the leads was overshadowed by my hatred for Thomas. If there is one thing I absolutely hate in life it's cheating. So for all the Thomas characters out there:
Thomas was a lying, cheating hypocrite. He put up this air of perfection and morality, when in fact, he has less morals than a 10-year-old. He was such a bitch to Griffin, the hero. He had the gall to lecture him about being a gentleman when he was far, far from being one! For example, he never planned on leaving his mistress even though he was going to marry Lady Hero.
Here's what he said to his mistress:
He sneered his words, but she looked at him wonderingly. “Areyou jealous, Thomas? I can’t think why, since you’re the one who broke it off when you decided to marry Lady Hero.”
He looked away from her too-perceptive face. “I never said we had to quit, only that we wait a decent amount of time after the wedding. A year at most. I could’ve bought you a bigger house if you wanted it. A carriage and team.”
“The money never had anything to do with it.”
“Then what did?”
She sighed. “However provincial it might seem to you, I don’t wish to carry on a liaison with a married man. It’s rather sordid, don’t you think? Besides, I’ve seen your Lady Hero and she seems a nice girl. I shouldn’t like to hurt her.”
He grit his teeth, feeling the beginnings of a headache. “Are you saying you care more for my fiancée than me?”
And then he guiltripped Griffin and Lady Hero because of their budding attraction to each other. What a fucker.
This was such a waste, really. I loved Lady Hero. Others didn't like her priggish and uptight nature, but I did. I think it's because I'm really prudish and priggish in real life so I can relate to her. Griffin was delicious and amazing as well. It took me a while to get over my instant dislike of him (because of what he did in the first chapter) but he redeemed himself wonderfully in the story.
Unfortunately, my love for the leads was overshadowed by my hatred for Thomas. If there is one thing I absolutely hate in life it's cheating. So for all the Thomas characters out there:
February 5, 2011
All right.
Characters:
Griffin.
That about sums up my reaction to him. He is offically my favorite romance hero of all time. He is funny, caring, warm, hard-working, sexy as hell, loving, and on top of that, he's described as not being handsome, which made me very happy. Yeah, that sounds weird, but it's true. His interactions with Hero were swoon-worthy. Also, he's such a sweetie to his mother, which is adorable. On top of this he works his beautiful butt off to support his family while his ass of a brother sits on his ass , complaining and being all pompous and narrow minded and stodgy and boring. I just love Griffin, love the way he fell for Hero so fast and wanted her and only her, but most of all I just love him. I will not abide ANYONE saying a bad word about my baby.
Hero.
For once, I found the heroine likable and not annoying!
Toward the beginning, she was a tad stiff, but it was nice to see her come out of her shell with Griffin's help. Griffin definitely unlocked her inner passion. Before she fell for Griffin, she was very obedient and prim, but he changed everything, and I'd like to think he brought out the real "Hero." Despite her denials, I KNEW she loved Griffin, because it was so clear in her actions and in her thoughts. Notice how everything I like about Hero relates back to Griffin??
Thomas.
Thomas the Ass. Or Thomas of Asslandia. Ugh. This man disgusts me. He spent years and years treating his brother like crappio, all because his dumb-bitch wife said Griffin had seduced her. Of course, the Ass automatically believes her, because, you know, there's no such thing as lying, and refuses to believe Griffin. Even yearssss later, he says to someone, "I refused to give him the satisfaction of believing him." Okay, so he refuses to believe Griffin because it would satisfy Griffin? Are you kidding me? Is that a joke? He's the suckiest brother ever, and hates Griff because he's jealous of him. His type annoys me. I'm onto him and his ilk. I. AM. ON. TO. HIM!
Now, don't confuse the Ass with asses. This is an ass.
This is a nice, sweet ass who deserves love and kindness.
Now this is THE Ass.
It's too bad he gets to be happy in the end. *pouts*
Also, this is how I picture Maximus the Gorilla of Jerklandia.
The Gorilla threatened my Griffy-Poo, and this was me when he did:
Yep. That was me.
I liked quite a few of the side characters, too. Phoebe, Hero's sister, and Megs, Griffin's sister. I'm still wondering if we'll see more of The Makepiece siblings. I liked Winter better in this book than the last. And I still want to know who the Ghost of St. Giles is.
I still like Silence, and, as I did in the previous book, I feel very, very sorry for her, and I'm looking forward to her book.
Relationship:
Ohhh, the chemistry between Hero and Griffin was electric. As Griffin said, they are like bread and butter: they go together so, so well. And their love-making was...hot. There were quite a few of lervin' scenes, but not too many (I know, I know, but I don't like when there's a sex scene on every page), and I enjoyed them all because, well, Griffy-Poo was invloved, so... Additionally, their love was so potent, so obvious, that it jumped off the pages, and when I was not reading this book, I counted down the minutes till I could read it again. I thought about the characters even when not reading, and they also felt like real characters--people I'd actually want to know.
There's just something about this series. It's haunting, beautiful, ugly, awful, wonderful, dark, gritty, funny, and not at all cliche. I wasn't once bored while reading it, and that's rare for me. I am VERY PICKY, as I point out all the time, but this book...it just really did it for me. The writing style sucks me in for some reason.
I LOVED the end of this book. Thomas did not redeem himself in my eyes, because he's the Ass and is mean to Griffy-Poo. However, Griffin is happy and in love and Hero is very worthy of him, so I'm happy. Squeee! Although, I just want to say that I wish things could have worked out better between Thomas and Griffin, because I spent the whole book waiting for them to sort of make-up. *sad face*
Oh, and there was only ONE mention of a single "buck" in this book, so props to Elizabeth Hoyt for that.
Hero:
Griffin:
Haha. Yep.
Characters:
Griffin.
That about sums up my reaction to him. He is offically my favorite romance hero of all time. He is funny, caring, warm, hard-working, sexy as hell, loving, and on top of that, he's described as not being handsome, which made me very happy. Yeah, that sounds weird, but it's true. His interactions with Hero were swoon-worthy. Also, he's such a sweetie to his mother, which is adorable. On top of this he works his beautiful butt off to support his family while his ass of a brother sits on his ass , complaining and being all pompous and narrow minded and stodgy and boring. I just love Griffin, love the way he fell for Hero so fast and wanted her and only her, but most of all I just love him. I will not abide ANYONE saying a bad word about my baby.
Hero.
For once, I found the heroine likable and not annoying!
Toward the beginning, she was a tad stiff, but it was nice to see her come out of her shell with Griffin's help. Griffin definitely unlocked her inner passion. Before she fell for Griffin, she was very obedient and prim, but he changed everything, and I'd like to think he brought out the real "Hero." Despite her denials, I KNEW she loved Griffin, because it was so clear in her actions and in her thoughts. Notice how everything I like about Hero relates back to Griffin??
Thomas.
Thomas the Ass. Or Thomas of Asslandia. Ugh. This man disgusts me. He spent years and years treating his brother like crappio, all because his dumb-bitch wife said Griffin had seduced her. Of course, the Ass automatically believes her, because, you know, there's no such thing as lying, and refuses to believe Griffin. Even yearssss later, he says to someone, "I refused to give him the satisfaction of believing him." Okay, so he refuses to believe Griffin because it would satisfy Griffin? Are you kidding me? Is that a joke? He's the suckiest brother ever, and hates Griff because he's jealous of him. His type annoys me. I'm onto him and his ilk. I. AM. ON. TO. HIM!
Now, don't confuse the Ass with asses. This is an ass.
This is a nice, sweet ass who deserves love and kindness.
Now this is THE Ass.
It's too bad he gets to be happy in the end. *pouts*
Also, this is how I picture Maximus the Gorilla of Jerklandia.
The Gorilla threatened my Griffy-Poo, and this was me when he did:
Yep. That was me.
I liked quite a few of the side characters, too. Phoebe, Hero's sister, and Megs, Griffin's sister. I'm still wondering if we'll see more of The Makepiece siblings. I liked Winter better in this book than the last. And I still want to know who the Ghost of St. Giles is.
I still like Silence, and, as I did in the previous book, I feel very, very sorry for her, and I'm looking forward to her book.
Relationship:
Ohhh, the chemistry between Hero and Griffin was electric. As Griffin said, they are like bread and butter: they go together so, so well. And their love-making was...hot. There were quite a few of lervin' scenes, but not too many (I know, I know, but I don't like when there's a sex scene on every page), and I enjoyed them all because, well, Griffy-Poo was invloved, so... Additionally, their love was so potent, so obvious, that it jumped off the pages, and when I was not reading this book, I counted down the minutes till I could read it again. I thought about the characters even when not reading, and they also felt like real characters--people I'd actually want to know.
There's just something about this series. It's haunting, beautiful, ugly, awful, wonderful, dark, gritty, funny, and not at all cliche. I wasn't once bored while reading it, and that's rare for me. I am VERY PICKY, as I point out all the time, but this book...it just really did it for me. The writing style sucks me in for some reason.
I LOVED the end of this book. Thomas did not redeem himself in my eyes, because he's the Ass and is mean to Griffy-Poo. However, Griffin is happy and in love and Hero is very worthy of him, so I'm happy. Squeee! Although, I just want to say that I wish things could have worked out better between Thomas and Griffin, because I spent the whole book waiting for them to sort of make-up. *sad face*
Oh, and there was only ONE mention of a single "buck" in this book, so props to Elizabeth Hoyt for that.
Hero:
Griffin:
Haha. Yep.
December 7, 2011
Maybe 2-2.5. I'm stuck with a feeling of indifference and even a general distaste for the way things played out.
Lady Hero left me cold and was way too stubborn about her feelings for WAY too long. This book could have been finished in 100 fewer pages if she weren't such a coward about what she was feeling and if Elizabeth Hoyt didn't have word count requirements. For those of you who've read my review of
, Lady Hero actually reminded me a bit of Sir Argus, and you know that's not a good thing. She was supposed to be all prim and proper, but then she started knockin' boots with the H...while she was still engaged to the H's brother. But she refused even to consider marrying the H because they were "too different" and they "wouldn't suit," but oh...she couldn't resist his magic penis and ended up shagging him multiple times (while STILL engaged). *sigh* At least Griffin called her out on it, saying that she may not want his love, but he could at least give her something she did want: his cock. O__o
Griffin was a good guy and he was working for me, but then he went a little emo when Hero refused his suit. His shift from "I'm in love" to kamikaze gin still fighter (literally - as in, he recognized the overwhelmingly unfavorable odds in his guns-and-swords fight with a rival gin distiller, and he practically welcomed death) to "Yay, you love me, too?" was a little too mercurial for my tastes. I mean, his readiness to die was sandwiched quite neatly between kissyfaced lovey-dovey hearts-and-rainbows feelings, and that just didn't work for me.
The secondary characters (and the secondary romance) were a little too conveniently evil villain types. It just seemed weird that Hero's brother, who earlier showed concern over her happiness with the match with the H's brother, would take an about face later on in the story to blackmail Hero into marrying the brother. *blink blink* I mean, really?
Not all is doom and gloom - there are some redeeming qualities here. I liked Griffin a LOT for 90% of the book - basically up until he turned emo. The sexytimes were hot and steamy. The non-romance plot points (i.e., the push to shut down gin production and the scenes set in seedy St. Giles with Silence, the gin distillery, the foundling home, etc.) were interesting.
More substantive review to follow. Maybe. Or not. This is my more substantive review...I guess.
Elizabeth Hoyt is still one of my go-to authors, but I'm glad I got this one from the library. I look forward to the next story, but my expectations are a bit lowered. Charming Mickey's use of "me" instead of "my" in the sneak-peek sample of Scandalous Desires made me wince, and that was only within the span of 6 pages. :/
I will hold on to some faith, though, as that book was rated 4.3+ overall. *crosses fingers* Bring on Silence and Mickey!
Lady Hero left me cold and was way too stubborn about her feelings for WAY too long. This book could have been finished in 100 fewer pages if she weren't such a coward about what she was feeling and if Elizabeth Hoyt didn't have word count requirements. For those of you who've read my review of
, Lady Hero actually reminded me a bit of Sir Argus, and you know that's not a good thing. She was supposed to be all prim and proper, but then she started knockin' boots with the H...while she was still engaged to the H's brother. But she refused even to consider marrying the H because they were "too different" and they "wouldn't suit," but oh...she couldn't resist his magic penis and ended up shagging him multiple times (while STILL engaged). *sigh* At least Griffin called her out on it, saying that she may not want his love, but he could at least give her something she did want: his cock. O__o Griffin was a good guy and he was working for me, but then he went a little emo when Hero refused his suit. His shift from "I'm in love" to kamikaze gin still fighter (literally - as in, he recognized the overwhelmingly unfavorable odds in his guns-and-swords fight with a rival gin distiller, and he practically welcomed death) to "Yay, you love me, too?" was a little too mercurial for my tastes. I mean, his readiness to die was sandwiched quite neatly between kissyfaced lovey-dovey hearts-and-rainbows feelings, and that just didn't work for me.
The secondary characters (and the secondary romance) were a little too conveniently evil villain types. It just seemed weird that Hero's brother, who earlier showed concern over her happiness with the match with the H's brother, would take an about face later on in the story to blackmail Hero into marrying the brother. *blink blink* I mean, really?
Not all is doom and gloom - there are some redeeming qualities here. I liked Griffin a LOT for 90% of the book - basically up until he turned emo. The sexytimes were hot and steamy. The non-romance plot points (i.e., the push to shut down gin production and the scenes set in seedy St. Giles with Silence, the gin distillery, the foundling home, etc.) were interesting.
Elizabeth Hoyt is still one of my go-to authors, but I'm glad I got this one from the library. I look forward to the next story, but my expectations are a bit lowered. Charming Mickey's use of "me" instead of "my" in the sneak-peek sample of Scandalous Desires made me wince, and that was only within the span of 6 pages. :/
I will hold on to some faith, though, as that book was rated 4.3+ overall. *crosses fingers* Bring on Silence and Mickey!
August 7, 2016
This second story in the series continues its edginess with two characters that test your acceptance of them and their behavior.
Griffin Remmington, Lord Reading, has somewhat earned his rake reputation and the onset of the story won't endear him to you (probably). The opening scene is provocative and it took me a bit to get that out of my head. Lady Hero Batten, sister of a Duke and co-patroness of the children's home in St. Giles, has the unfortunate experience of witnessing his debauchery. She's engaged to his brother but this was their first encounter. Hero has committed her life to doing the right thing and living a life of comportment that would never create any issues for her powerful and politically influential brother.
I wasn't certain if I'd bond with either of these characters, let alone enjoy a romance between the two but the story is brilliantly written. The characters have so many dimensions and I found myself embracing them because of their flaws and attempts to be better. The issues at first seem to be black or white but eventually become grayer as the story progresses. Their relationship developed gradually, she emerging from that "perfect" veneer and he showing himself to be a man of substance beyond what he seemed on the surface. All served as subtle reminders to not be so quick to render judgment.
I'm loving this series, including the narration. It's an imperfect world these characters live in and their imperfections make for a much richer story.
Griffin Remmington, Lord Reading, has somewhat earned his rake reputation and the onset of the story won't endear him to you (probably). The opening scene is provocative and it took me a bit to get that out of my head. Lady Hero Batten, sister of a Duke and co-patroness of the children's home in St. Giles, has the unfortunate experience of witnessing his debauchery. She's engaged to his brother but this was their first encounter. Hero has committed her life to doing the right thing and living a life of comportment that would never create any issues for her powerful and politically influential brother.
I wasn't certain if I'd bond with either of these characters, let alone enjoy a romance between the two but the story is brilliantly written. The characters have so many dimensions and I found myself embracing them because of their flaws and attempts to be better. The issues at first seem to be black or white but eventually become grayer as the story progresses. Their relationship developed gradually, she emerging from that "perfect" veneer and he showing himself to be a man of substance beyond what he seemed on the surface. All served as subtle reminders to not be so quick to render judgment.
I'm loving this series, including the narration. It's an imperfect world these characters live in and their imperfections make for a much richer story.
December 19, 2016
Another awesome reread for me!!! I figured it out and it had been almost five years since I read this!! I did remember certain scenes very well, but I'm still very glad that I decided to refresh myself before starting book five!! My memory just does not seem to be that great anymore! LOL
Elizabeth Hoyt is one of my top fave authors for Historical Romances...and I totally understand why! She creates an entertaining story, and the sex is hot and steaming-even if it is "back in the old days"....LOL Apparently they still knew how to be kinky way back when...hee hee!
Anyhoo, moving on to book three, and I can't wait as Charming Mickey is my fave of the series so far....Even I remember that!!! ;-P
Elizabeth Hoyt is one of my top fave authors for Historical Romances...and I totally understand why! She creates an entertaining story, and the sex is hot and steaming-even if it is "back in the old days"....LOL Apparently they still knew how to be kinky way back when...hee hee!
Anyhoo, moving on to book three, and I can't wait as Charming Mickey is my fave of the series so far....Even I remember that!!! ;-P
August 28, 2023
Review up!
2.75 stars
Not what I was hoping it would be and fell short next to Book 1. This was lacking that punch and I had some problems with it overall. I knew I was in trouble from the start when I found out our heroine is engaged to the hero's older brother who everyone and their mother puts on such a high pedestal while completely disregarding the fact thathe's an unmitigated asshole his own brother dislikes him. Red Flag #1 right there. I generally don't mind love triangles, in fact if handled well it can make for brilliant angst. But here.....it played out exactly as I feared and just managed to create silly incoherent forced angst for our leads. It just made for a frustrating read overall.
I liked Griffin enough. He's very rough around the edges, coarse, blunt, irreverent and funny. He's the black sheep of his family and the ton. The ton whom either humor him and love him no matter what, or treat him like a bug underneath their polished shoe and the butt of their petty jokes *side eyes Thomas*. Lady Hero on the other hand ( you are killing me with these ridiculous names Hoyt! >.<) is perfect, polished, poised and everything Griffin is not.
The set up here initially was very interesting and I was hooked. That and Hoyt's brilliant talent of weaving beautiful prose and witty dialogue didn't hurt either. But even so, things just ended up lagging, falling short and not as exciting or gritty as the first book. And the whole side plot about the gin distillery business Griffin runs while a nice attempt at conflict, I found rather dull, tiring and uninteresting.
But what really didn't work for me? The long drawn-out insufferable engagement. The title of Jackhole of the Century™ in this book goes to Thomas Reading. The asshole fiance and Griffin's older brother who gets more absolution than he’s worth IMO.
I knew he was trouble before he even opened his mouth. He’s a stuffy disdainful prejudiced snob who for some reason gets a POV and a HEA to boot too at the end (WTF for??). From his constant stiff lipped sneering, petty childish jabs to his brother, extremely sexist chauvinistic remarks to chasing after his ex-mistress while engaged (but oh yes let's forgive him shall we?), and yet we have our heroine Hero oblivious to it and constantly defending his pristine character. To his own brother. RME. Right, ok. And this was all before ‘the incident' that is so infuriating your urge to throw this book out the window is severely tested. But I’ll get to that in a minute.
The other issue I had? The heroine, Lady Hero. I found her all over the place and so underwhelming. She’s exactly what you would expect on paper and I was waiting for her to break out of that mold of privileged darling. But she never did. Instead I found her wishy washy, prissy, sanctimonious, judgmental, cowardly, and lukewarm. Which surprised me since she seemed so jovial and refreshing with the cameo she made in Temprence’s book. Which I have to say, for a heroine named "Hero" I found her to be pretty spineless and weak. Go figure. Her inner struggle and guilt over her own tarnished image of perfection was just too much for me. She's endlessly internalizing and hand wringing over losing her crowned status because she's lusting after her fiance's shameless degenerate brother. It went on for too long. While the guilt is understandable, what bothered me was the fact that she seemed to care more about her image and what the ton thought of her rather than what's right in front of her nose and following her heart. Yes you’re the sister of a Duke, yes you were raised to be a cut above others with high expectations but seriously you are THAT hung up over society possibly no longer viewing you as perfect and being distraught over your own disillusionment of self-perfection??.....Wow.
Moral of the story here:
The whole source of tension and conflict between the h/hr was so floundering and inconsistent and didn't really speak volumes about Hero's character. Her laundry list of reasons for why she couldn't be with Griffin are inconsistent and ever-changing. She can’t be with Griffin because they aren’t compatible, her brother won’t allow it, he’s a Gin distiller, he’s a rake, she doesn’t love him, he’s not stable or safe. Every time Griffin confronted her over this, she had a new excuse pulled out. She kept pushing him away for reasons that were weak at best and cowardly at worst. Griffin is a wild card to you but stuffy abusive chauvinistic Thomas is the better choice?
I mean the red flags that kept popping up about dear Thomas seemed to not phase her through 90% of the story which made everything so frustrating and unfulfilling. For fuck’s sake, she finds out her perfect paragon of a fiance sat on his ass while his younger brother had to do the grunt dirty work to come up with funds to support the ducal family and it didn't seem to phase her much.
Girl….red alert. RED ALERT. And you wanna chide Griffin for selling gin because it’s a sin??? Please shut up. Please.
But then, oh then it gets even more ridiculous. And here is the big *incident* that makes you want to set fire to the whole damn book. You would think the final strike against this miserable merry-go-round would be Thomas's reaction to Hero confessing about her affair with Griffin. Right? Right?....Wrong. Thomas hits her--to the point she's thrown to the ground--and calls her a whore. But guess what? She still decides to go through with the engagement. And why? Because her brother made the match and she agrees with his choice and Thomas is the "safer more reliable choice" over Griffin.
And cue my step off this ride right here. She seemed to easily forgive Thomas for what he did because "he was hurt"--who FYI gave her a fucking diamond emerald necklace as an apology in the end (if that doesn't say enough)--but was constantly crucifying Griff for how he lives his life and the choices he makes and thinking he wasn't good enough. I mean...really? I just gave up caring for any kind of redeemable HEA after this scene, with a heroine this weak, spineless and selfish it just lost all my interest.
So yeah, not a winner for me. Here's to hoping Winter's book is better.
2.75 stars
Not what I was hoping it would be and fell short next to Book 1. This was lacking that punch and I had some problems with it overall. I knew I was in trouble from the start when I found out our heroine is engaged to the hero's older brother who everyone and their mother puts on such a high pedestal while completely disregarding the fact that
I liked Griffin enough. He's very rough around the edges, coarse, blunt, irreverent and funny. He's the black sheep of his family and the ton. The ton whom either humor him and love him no matter what, or treat him like a bug underneath their polished shoe and the butt of their petty jokes *side eyes Thomas*. Lady Hero on the other hand ( you are killing me with these ridiculous names Hoyt! >.<) is perfect, polished, poised and everything Griffin is not.
The set up here initially was very interesting and I was hooked. That and Hoyt's brilliant talent of weaving beautiful prose and witty dialogue didn't hurt either. But even so, things just ended up lagging, falling short and not as exciting or gritty as the first book. And the whole side plot about the gin distillery business Griffin runs while a nice attempt at conflict, I found rather dull, tiring and uninteresting.
But what really didn't work for me? The long drawn-out insufferable engagement. The title of Jackhole of the Century™ in this book goes to Thomas Reading. The asshole fiance and Griffin's older brother who gets more absolution than he’s worth IMO.
I knew he was trouble before he even opened his mouth. He’s a stuffy disdainful prejudiced snob who for some reason gets a POV and a HEA to boot too at the end (WTF for??). From his constant stiff lipped sneering, petty childish jabs to his brother, extremely sexist chauvinistic remarks to chasing after his ex-mistress while engaged (but oh yes let's forgive him shall we?), and yet we have our heroine Hero oblivious to it and constantly defending his pristine character. To his own brother. RME. Right, ok. And this was all before ‘the incident' that is so infuriating your urge to throw this book out the window is severely tested. But I’ll get to that in a minute.
The other issue I had? The heroine, Lady Hero. I found her all over the place and so underwhelming. She’s exactly what you would expect on paper and I was waiting for her to break out of that mold of privileged darling. But she never did. Instead I found her wishy washy, prissy, sanctimonious, judgmental, cowardly, and lukewarm. Which surprised me since she seemed so jovial and refreshing with the cameo she made in Temprence’s book. Which I have to say, for a heroine named "Hero" I found her to be pretty spineless and weak. Go figure. Her inner struggle and guilt over her own tarnished image of perfection was just too much for me. She's endlessly internalizing and hand wringing over losing her crowned status because she's lusting after her fiance's shameless degenerate brother. It went on for too long. While the guilt is understandable, what bothered me was the fact that she seemed to care more about her image and what the ton thought of her rather than what's right in front of her nose and following her heart. Yes you’re the sister of a Duke, yes you were raised to be a cut above others with high expectations but seriously you are THAT hung up over society possibly no longer viewing you as perfect and being distraught over your own disillusionment of self-perfection??.....Wow.
Moral of the story here:
The whole source of tension and conflict between the h/hr was so floundering and inconsistent and didn't really speak volumes about Hero's character. Her laundry list of reasons for why she couldn't be with Griffin are inconsistent and ever-changing. She can’t be with Griffin because they aren’t compatible, her brother won’t allow it, he’s a Gin distiller, he’s a rake, she doesn’t love him, he’s not stable or safe. Every time Griffin confronted her over this, she had a new excuse pulled out. She kept pushing him away for reasons that were weak at best and cowardly at worst. Griffin is a wild card to you but stuffy abusive chauvinistic Thomas is the better choice?
I mean the red flags that kept popping up about dear Thomas seemed to not phase her through 90% of the story which made everything so frustrating and unfulfilling. For fuck’s sake, she finds out her perfect paragon of a fiance sat on his ass while his younger brother had to do the grunt dirty work to come up with funds to support the ducal family and it didn't seem to phase her much.
Girl….red alert. RED ALERT. And you wanna chide Griffin for selling gin because it’s a sin??? Please shut up. Please.
But then, oh then it gets even more ridiculous. And here is the big *incident* that makes you want to set fire to the whole damn book. You would think the final strike against this miserable merry-go-round would be Thomas's reaction to Hero confessing about her affair with Griffin. Right? Right?....Wrong. Thomas hits her--to the point she's thrown to the ground--and calls her a whore. But guess what? She still decides to go through with the engagement. And why? Because her brother made the match and she agrees with his choice and Thomas is the "safer more reliable choice" over Griffin.
And cue my step off this ride right here. She seemed to easily forgive Thomas for what he did because "he was hurt"--who FYI gave her a fucking diamond emerald necklace as an apology in the end (if that doesn't say enough)--but was constantly crucifying Griff for how he lives his life and the choices he makes and thinking he wasn't good enough. I mean...really? I just gave up caring for any kind of redeemable HEA after this scene, with a heroine this weak, spineless and selfish it just lost all my interest.
So yeah, not a winner for me. Here's to hoping Winter's book is better.
December 2, 2015
4.5 stars.
I enjoyed the first in the series but I really enjoyed this one. I loved both characters, Griffin and Hero.
GRIFFIN
HERO
He thinks she is too perfect. She thinks he is a shameless cad!
Opposites attract ... and there is definitely an attraction.
This is only the second book I have read by this author but she is becoming a fast favourite.
I think I better lower my expectations for the next one because this is the one that I am really interested. Charming Mickey O'Conner!! He must be a bit of an Irish Rouge with a name like that.
OH, by the way, the sex scenes are totally HOT.
I enjoyed the first in the series but I really enjoyed this one. I loved both characters, Griffin and Hero.
Lady Hero Batten, the beautiful sister of the Duke of Wakefield, has everything a woman could want, including the perfect fiancé. True, the Marquis of Mandeville is a trifle dull and has no sense of humor, but that doesn't bother Hero. Until she meets his notorious brother . . .
GRIFFIN
HERO
Lord Griffin Reading is far from perfect - and he likes it that way. How he spends his days is a mystery, but all of London knows he engages in the worst sorts of drunken revelry at night. Hero takes an instant dislike to him, and Griffin thinks that Hero, with her charities and faultless manners, is much too impeccable for society, let alone his brother.
"We meet again, Lady Perfect," Lord Griffin drawled.
He thinks she is too perfect. She thinks he is a shameless cad!
Opposites attract ... and there is definitely an attraction.
There seemed to be an invisible line between them now an awareness drawn taut by sensuality and basic sin.
"What god gave you the right to sit in judgment over me?" he asked low and awful.
"Oh, but I forget: You consider yourself more virtuous than the rest of us mere mortals. You are Lady Perfect, arbitrator of other people's sins, an incorruptible maiden colder than graveyard granite in January."
This is only the second book I have read by this author but she is becoming a fast favourite.
I think I better lower my expectations for the next one because this is the one that I am really interested. Charming Mickey O'Conner!! He must be a bit of an Irish Rouge with a name like that.
OH, by the way, the sex scenes are totally HOT.
February 27, 2021
This is a ranting with spoilers... I apologize in advance.
This book started nice enough... *cough cough*
...with the heroine catching the hero with a married woman in the library.
And then the heroine has spent her whole life being dutiful, knowing exactly what is expected from an aristocratic family as important as hers, a woman with a good head on her shoulders (or so it appeared in the previous book) simply gives herself physically to her fiancé's brother not even after knowing the guy for a few days.
I mean, I don't have a problem when a heroine decides that she wants to loose her virginity. But there were so many problems in HOW it happened that just makes no sense even if it was nowadays. How can you simply achieve such an important milestone in your life, one as important as this one was back then, and not give it a second thought? Not even once she thought about her future...
And when the guy wants to marry her she doesn't want to, she literally only wants him sexually and keeps going to him to have more and asking him if he loves her every time he asks her to marry him. But hey, why does she wants that from him when she doesn't want it from his brother? It was not fair...
And then, she simply goes to her fiancé, and blurt it all out. Without thinking again about the consequences. And gets slapped by him and ACCEPT it as if it were her due. What kind of woman would accept it? Even say that that he had reasons!
The hero kept declaring himself and she just kept saying that she would marry his brother anyway. Whaaaat?
And don't get me started in this gin business... so much focus on it.
And then, who goes running in the middle of a gang fight in the middle of sords, clubs, bullets like an idiot?
There was not a single drop of romance here. The most romantic part was when the hero said that they were like bread and butter.
This book was very badly done. Even though I liked the hero, I thought him underestimated by everybody except his mom and sisters, a hard working person, but not even that makes me like this book.
This book started nice enough... *cough cough*
...with the heroine catching the hero with a married woman in the library.
And then the heroine has spent her whole life being dutiful, knowing exactly what is expected from an aristocratic family as important as hers, a woman with a good head on her shoulders (or so it appeared in the previous book) simply gives herself physically to her fiancé's brother not even after knowing the guy for a few days.
I mean, I don't have a problem when a heroine decides that she wants to loose her virginity. But there were so many problems in HOW it happened that just makes no sense even if it was nowadays. How can you simply achieve such an important milestone in your life, one as important as this one was back then, and not give it a second thought? Not even once she thought about her future...
And when the guy wants to marry her she doesn't want to, she literally only wants him sexually and keeps going to him to have more and asking him if he loves her every time he asks her to marry him. But hey, why does she wants that from him when she doesn't want it from his brother? It was not fair...
And then, she simply goes to her fiancé, and blurt it all out. Without thinking again about the consequences. And gets slapped by him and ACCEPT it as if it were her due. What kind of woman would accept it? Even say that that he had reasons!
The hero kept declaring himself and she just kept saying that she would marry his brother anyway. Whaaaat?
And don't get me started in this gin business... so much focus on it.
And then, who goes running in the middle of a gang fight in the middle of sords, clubs, bullets like an idiot?
There was not a single drop of romance here. The most romantic part was when the hero said that they were like bread and butter.
This book was very badly done. Even though I liked the hero, I thought him underestimated by everybody except his mom and sisters, a hard working person, but not even that makes me like this book.
August 28, 2023
Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person, mostly from the hero and heroine but also POV from a side character, Silence, who is the heroine of a future book
Percentage which mains are first on page together: Didn’t note it but almost immediately
Cliffhanger: No, ends with a Happily Ever After
Epilogue: The last chapter takes place 6 weeks in the future. The actual named epilogue is about Silence
Format: listened to audiobook from library (Hoopla)
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
“Shh.” He raised his head and licked lazily at a nipple, his breath caressing her wet skin as he whispered merely another torment. “Easy, sweetheart.”
He spoke as if she were a mare in need of gentling, and at any other time, she would have made him aware of his insult. But at this moment, she was entirely at his mercy.
“Griffin, please,” she whispered.
“Do you want me?” he asked.
“Yes.” She tossed her head restlessly. She’d explode if he didn’t give her release soon.
“Do you need me?” He kissed her nipple too gently.
“Please, please, please.”
“Do you love me?”
Should I read in order?
Probably, yes. There’s definitely some overarching plots and themes throughout the series, as well as future characters being developed (like Silence, who also has page time in book 1). The romance itself could be read as a standalone for a rebellious reader.
Basic plot:
Hero has the most unusual meeting of her future brother in law...
Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian romance (1737)
- daughter of a duke heroine and brother of a Marquess hero
- a touch of taboo/forbidden love – the heroine is engaged to the hero’s brother
- bearded (and hairy!) hero
- dirty talking hero
- bit of an antihero –
- higher steam – 5 full scenes
Ages:
- heroine is 24, didn’t catch hero but would guess around 30?
My thoughts:
I am conflicted about this one! Some parts are still with me even though I finished this a week or two ago. And I think they will linger for much longer. But I also got frustrated with a few things.
I do struggle with one of the mains being ‘with’ or promised to another throughout the book. And in this one, the heroine’s engagement lasts almost the whole book and I was so ready for it to be over. There’s also something the fiance does that I don’t think was handled well enough – he barely apologized and it was forgiven when to me it’s almost unforgivable. He’s not glorified for it, but I felt like it needed to be addressed more.
But...I loved these characters. I didn’t want to love Griffin. He has a lot of issues. And he’s definitely not perfect lol. But damn, I just fell in love with him anyway. He just loved Hero so much. He wanted her so badly. The yearning he felt – to the point of tears – I just was swooning.
There’s something about a man basically begging his woman to love him while fucking her that just wrecked my heart. And I always want my heart wrecked.
One of my biggest complaints about this book is that Hoyt loves the word ‘penis’. Lol. It also felt a bit long to me. Like I was ready for it to be over before it was over. Not sure if it was the overarching themes of the side characters pushing their way in (I’m looking at you, Silence’s POV..) or their push and pull was just a bit too much for me. But either way, definitely eager to keep reading this series!
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
--------------------------------------
Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person, mostly from the hero and heroine but also POV from a side character, Silence, who is the heroine of a future book
Percentage which mains are first on page together: Didn’t note it but almost immediately
Cliffhanger: No, ends with a Happily Ever After
Epilogue: The last chapter takes place 6 weeks in the future. The actual named epilogue is about Silence
Format: listened to audiobook from library (Hoopla)
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
“Shh.” He raised his head and licked lazily at a nipple, his breath caressing her wet skin as he whispered merely another torment. “Easy, sweetheart.”
He spoke as if she were a mare in need of gentling, and at any other time, she would have made him aware of his insult. But at this moment, she was entirely at his mercy.
“Griffin, please,” she whispered.
“Do you want me?” he asked.
“Yes.” She tossed her head restlessly. She’d explode if he didn’t give her release soon.
“Do you need me?” He kissed her nipple too gently.
“Please, please, please.”
“Do you love me?”
Should I read in order?
Probably, yes. There’s definitely some overarching plots and themes throughout the series, as well as future characters being developed (like Silence, who also has page time in book 1). The romance itself could be read as a standalone for a rebellious reader.
Basic plot:
Hero has the most unusual meeting of her future brother in law...
Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian romance (1737)
- daughter of a duke heroine and brother of a Marquess hero
- a touch of taboo/forbidden love – the heroine is engaged to the hero’s brother
- bearded (and hairy!) hero
- dirty talking hero
- bit of an antihero –
- higher steam – 5 full scenes
Ages:
- heroine is 24, didn’t catch hero but would guess around 30?
My thoughts:
I am conflicted about this one! Some parts are still with me even though I finished this a week or two ago. And I think they will linger for much longer. But I also got frustrated with a few things.
I do struggle with one of the mains being ‘with’ or promised to another throughout the book. And in this one, the heroine’s engagement lasts almost the whole book and I was so ready for it to be over. There’s also something the fiance does that I don’t think was handled well enough – he barely apologized and it was forgiven when to me it’s almost unforgivable. He’s not glorified for it, but I felt like it needed to be addressed more.
But...I loved these characters. I didn’t want to love Griffin. He has a lot of issues. And he’s definitely not perfect lol. But damn, I just fell in love with him anyway. He just loved Hero so much. He wanted her so badly. The yearning he felt – to the point of tears – I just was swooning.
There’s something about a man basically begging his woman to love him while fucking her that just wrecked my heart. And I always want my heart wrecked.
One of my biggest complaints about this book is that Hoyt loves the word ‘penis’. Lol. It also felt a bit long to me. Like I was ready for it to be over before it was over. Not sure if it was the overarching themes of the side characters pushing their way in (I’m looking at you, Silence’s POV..) or their push and pull was just a bit too much for me. But either way, definitely eager to keep reading this series!
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
--------------------------------------
Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs
Read
July 11, 2019Second DNF in two days. I'm on a Maiden Lane roll.
Despite really liking/loving this series as well as E. Hoyt's writing, this one did not do it for me.
The heroine cheats on her stupid and shallow fiancee with his younger, smarter, more handsome brother. I'd give her a pass, maybe, but, one, she still plans to marry the jerk even after falling in love with the H as well as falling in his bed, and two, I didn't like her. Her brother, another Duke, is going to make her marry him even after the fiancee slugs her after finding about her affair with his little brother. No, it's not a slap, he full on hits her. Her big brother is torn between calling the fiancee out or making her marry him. She says it's all her fault so marry it is. The brother is the Batman H in Duke of Midnight. He is still a stick-in-the-mud all about the dukedom jerk, but his awesome heroine, Artemis, more than makes up for him.
Anyhoo, back to these idjits, her fiancee has his own issues besides hitting the heroine. He is love with an inappropriate woman.
The heroine may straighten up later, but I didn't care to skim to the end. I would just move along to one of the other ones.
Despite really liking/loving this series as well as E. Hoyt's writing, this one did not do it for me.
The heroine cheats on her stupid and shallow fiancee with his younger, smarter, more handsome brother. I'd give her a pass, maybe, but, one, she still plans to marry the jerk even after falling in love with the H as well as falling in his bed, and two, I didn't like her. Her brother, another Duke, is going to make her marry him even after the fiancee slugs her after finding about her affair with his little brother. No, it's not a slap, he full on hits her. Her big brother is torn between calling the fiancee out or making her marry him. She says it's all her fault so marry it is. The brother is the Batman H in Duke of Midnight. He is still a stick-in-the-mud all about the dukedom jerk, but his awesome heroine, Artemis, more than makes up for him.
Anyhoo, back to these idjits, her fiancee has his own issues besides hitting the heroine. He is love with an inappropriate woman.
The heroine may straighten up later, but I didn't care to skim to the end. I would just move along to one of the other ones.
August 9, 2016
DNF - 60%
Well, I tried reading this one only to get to Scandalous Desires, as Silence's character appears in this book, too. But this is a total failure for me. As much as I liked Wicked Intentions, I dislike this one.
Hero and Griffin are a mess, Thomas is an arse, and Silence has too little book time. This is simply not worth my time. So I looked a little at the spoilery reviews, and found out that I do not wish to read that, nor feel any more angst. So I'll just proceed to Silence's book.
Well, I tried reading this one only to get to Scandalous Desires, as Silence's character appears in this book, too. But this is a total failure for me. As much as I liked Wicked Intentions, I dislike this one.
Hero and Griffin are a mess, Thomas is an arse, and Silence has too little book time. This is simply not worth my time. So I looked a little at the spoilery reviews, and found out that I do not wish to read that, nor feel any more angst. So I'll just proceed to Silence's book.
December 27, 2022
3,5 estrellas. Elizabeth Hoyt es una autora de romance histórico cuyas obras me suelen gustar mucho, pues sus protagonistas no son los típicos nobles.
En esta ocasión, la historia empieza muy bien y tiene a un protagonista masculino maravilloso pero la heroína no me ha conquistado y me ha parecido una historia menos redonda que la primera entrega de esta serie. Deseando leer la siguiente novela protagonizada por Silence.
#popsugar22 Reto 32: Un libro con una cita de tu autor(a) favorito en la portada o en la página de Amazon (recomendado por Lisa Kleypas)
En esta ocasión, la historia empieza muy bien y tiene a un protagonista masculino maravilloso pero la heroína no me ha conquistado y me ha parecido una historia menos redonda que la primera entrega de esta serie. Deseando leer la siguiente novela protagonizada por Silence.
#popsugar22 Reto 32: Un libro con una cita de tu autor(a) favorito en la portada o en la página de Amazon (recomendado por Lisa Kleypas)
February 4, 2011
Favorite Quote: “Do you like it?” he asked grasping himself.
The first time Lady Hero Battan sets her eyes upon Griffin Remmington, Lord Reading, she is utterly shocked. She doesn’t see his face, only his backside as he enjoys the offerings of the married woman underneath of him. Hero is horrified, but also knows the lady’s husband has arrived at the ball, and it would be best for Griffin to cover that backside up. After throwing her diamond earring at his rear, hence getting his attention, Griffin hastily removes himself from the lady, and is grateful to have dodged a duel.
Hero is at this ball to announce her engagement to Thomas, the Marquess of Mandeville. Ironically, Griffin is Thomas’s brother and Hero realizes she is not going to be able to forget Griffin and this embarrassing incident. Thomas and Griffin share a sordid past, and have a very icy relationship. Griffin is a charmer, very witty and flirtatious. He immediately gives Hero the nickname “Lady Perfect”, for her severe judgment she casts upon him and her very virtuous nature. Likewise, Hero calls Griffin “Lord Shameless”, for reveling in the fact he is a rake and a debaucher.
Hero immediately recognizes chemistry with Griffin, even though she doesn’t want to. They share the same love of books, and find conversation very easy. She knows she has to marry Thomas, because it is a good match for her family. But if Griffin has anything to do about it, Hero is his. He just needs to convince her not to marry his brother.
Griffin is not all smiles and fluff. He has saved his family from despair by distilling gin, although illegal in London. Competition in the streets of London is fierce and violent and Hero soon finds herself in the middle.
Notorious Pleasures is the second book in Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series but it can definitely be read as a stand alone. This one has a much lighter tone than the first book, Wicked Intentions (which I also adored). Griffin is a wonderfully warm hero. He is charming, funny, and definitely a rake. He likes women, but once he sets his eyes on Hero, she is the only woman for him. It drives him nuts that she is engaged to his brother, who he does not get along with. He slowly lowers Hero’s defenses and soon has her start to question if she is with the right man. Griffin knows Thomas is cold, their engagement is no love affair.
Hero has been raised to marry well. So she shocks herself, when she finds herself in these precarious positions with Griffin. He lights her fire, and she likes it. She accepts her feelings for Griffin:
She touched her mouth with shaking fingers. She’d committed an act of horrible betrayal. She knew that. She was aware of the ramifications and of regret. The possibility of far greater sin and guilty of the fact that her very soul was in peril.
And she did not care.
But she also knows it would be disastrous to her family, if she breaks her engagement. So she carries onward with Thomas. She also frowns upon Griffin and his gin distillery, knows that gin has causes many orphaned children. She helps fund an orphanage that is filled with children who lost their parents to drinking and doesn’t know if she can looks past Griffin’s involvement in this illegal business.
The romance in this book is so sensual and hot. I’ve said this before – Elizabeth Hoyt writes wonderful romance scenes. They can be so intense and intimate.
He was ragingly hard for her.
”Come here,” he whispered.
”Griffin.”
He half closed his eyes at her murmur. “You say my name like a lover, so soft, so sweet. I want to lick the word from your lips, sip the exhaled breath from your mouth. I want to possess you utterly. Right now. Right here.”
She darted then, a hart flushed from cover, and tried to leap around him. He caught her by her waist and flung her up against the closed door.
Then he bent his head and looked her in her brilliant diamond-gray eyes. “What will it be, madam?”
And hello – she gives us carriage smex. Is there anything better? I also love that many times I caught myself smiling and giggling at some of the funny conversations or facial expressions involving Griffin.
We also get more from Silence Hollingsbrook, the woman who runs the orphanage. Most of her side story is setting up her book, which comes out next. But once you see whom she will be paired with, it will make you very curious to see how that relationship will pan out.
Notorious Pleasures is a lovely, romantic book. I highly recommend it.
Rating: B+
The first time Lady Hero Battan sets her eyes upon Griffin Remmington, Lord Reading, she is utterly shocked. She doesn’t see his face, only his backside as he enjoys the offerings of the married woman underneath of him. Hero is horrified, but also knows the lady’s husband has arrived at the ball, and it would be best for Griffin to cover that backside up. After throwing her diamond earring at his rear, hence getting his attention, Griffin hastily removes himself from the lady, and is grateful to have dodged a duel.
Hero is at this ball to announce her engagement to Thomas, the Marquess of Mandeville. Ironically, Griffin is Thomas’s brother and Hero realizes she is not going to be able to forget Griffin and this embarrassing incident. Thomas and Griffin share a sordid past, and have a very icy relationship. Griffin is a charmer, very witty and flirtatious. He immediately gives Hero the nickname “Lady Perfect”, for her severe judgment she casts upon him and her very virtuous nature. Likewise, Hero calls Griffin “Lord Shameless”, for reveling in the fact he is a rake and a debaucher.
Hero immediately recognizes chemistry with Griffin, even though she doesn’t want to. They share the same love of books, and find conversation very easy. She knows she has to marry Thomas, because it is a good match for her family. But if Griffin has anything to do about it, Hero is his. He just needs to convince her not to marry his brother.
Griffin is not all smiles and fluff. He has saved his family from despair by distilling gin, although illegal in London. Competition in the streets of London is fierce and violent and Hero soon finds herself in the middle.
Notorious Pleasures is the second book in Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series but it can definitely be read as a stand alone. This one has a much lighter tone than the first book, Wicked Intentions (which I also adored). Griffin is a wonderfully warm hero. He is charming, funny, and definitely a rake. He likes women, but once he sets his eyes on Hero, she is the only woman for him. It drives him nuts that she is engaged to his brother, who he does not get along with. He slowly lowers Hero’s defenses and soon has her start to question if she is with the right man. Griffin knows Thomas is cold, their engagement is no love affair.
Hero has been raised to marry well. So she shocks herself, when she finds herself in these precarious positions with Griffin. He lights her fire, and she likes it. She accepts her feelings for Griffin:
She touched her mouth with shaking fingers. She’d committed an act of horrible betrayal. She knew that. She was aware of the ramifications and of regret. The possibility of far greater sin and guilty of the fact that her very soul was in peril.
And she did not care.
But she also knows it would be disastrous to her family, if she breaks her engagement. So she carries onward with Thomas. She also frowns upon Griffin and his gin distillery, knows that gin has causes many orphaned children. She helps fund an orphanage that is filled with children who lost their parents to drinking and doesn’t know if she can looks past Griffin’s involvement in this illegal business.
The romance in this book is so sensual and hot. I’ve said this before – Elizabeth Hoyt writes wonderful romance scenes. They can be so intense and intimate.
He was ragingly hard for her.
”Come here,” he whispered.
”Griffin.”
He half closed his eyes at her murmur. “You say my name like a lover, so soft, so sweet. I want to lick the word from your lips, sip the exhaled breath from your mouth. I want to possess you utterly. Right now. Right here.”
She darted then, a hart flushed from cover, and tried to leap around him. He caught her by her waist and flung her up against the closed door.
Then he bent his head and looked her in her brilliant diamond-gray eyes. “What will it be, madam?”
And hello – she gives us carriage smex. Is there anything better? I also love that many times I caught myself smiling and giggling at some of the funny conversations or facial expressions involving Griffin.
We also get more from Silence Hollingsbrook, the woman who runs the orphanage. Most of her side story is setting up her book, which comes out next. But once you see whom she will be paired with, it will make you very curious to see how that relationship will pan out.
Notorious Pleasures is a lovely, romantic book. I highly recommend it.
Rating: B+
October 6, 2023
This three stars is for the writing, the sex scenes and the side stories ONLY.
I hated everything about the main characters and their storyline.
There are lots of reviews that cover the reasons why this story sucked so I won’t waste my time getting into it. I’ll just put a bullet list below to remind myself why I won’t be rereading this one.
* heroine is a sanctimonious Mary Sue who acts like a prude but then proceeds to cheat on her fiancé and use the hero for sex for most of the book. But then rebuffs him because he makes illegal gin, but then sneaks away and has more sex with him behind his brother’s back.
* hero is such a good guy (sarcasm) and wrongly accused of being a rake and seducing his brother’s first wife. To prove he’s such a good guy the author has the mains meet cute be him having sex with a married woman, and then he proceeds to seduce his brother’s fiancée, repeatedly. But he’d never sleep with his brother’s wife like that, he’s honourable. I’m all for a dubious hero but trying to reason away his bad behaviour and making him a victim when he’s doing all the things he was accused of is some crafty mental gymnastics on the author’s part. I did not buy it.
* heroine and hero meet while hero is screwing a married women, ok gross, but then he proceeds to flirt with her and have a conversation while HIS DICK IS STILL IN SAID OTHER WOMAN. 🤮 This had no purpose to the story, this ow was nobody, and all this did was confuse the narrative that he was actually a good guy. Because he wasn’t.
*the hero’s justifications for running an illegal gin still were flimsy. The author should have just made him morally grey and stopped trying to explain away all his bad behaviour. I will root for a bad man all day long, but don’t try to make me think he’s good and misunderstood, when he really isn’t.
*the side characters were also assholes. Her fiancé and her brother notably, they were fine with marrying her and keeping her unhappy. Her fiancé strikes her across the face and her loving brother is ok with proceeding with the wedding. But don’t worry, all is forgiven by the end.
*this author keeps pretending to write epilogues but actually only gives us teasers to her next book.
I am going to read her next book because it has a pirate in it and he seems delicious. Even if his name is Mickey..I’ll try not to picture the mouse.
I hated everything about the main characters and their storyline.
There are lots of reviews that cover the reasons why this story sucked so I won’t waste my time getting into it. I’ll just put a bullet list below to remind myself why I won’t be rereading this one.
* heroine is a sanctimonious Mary Sue who acts like a prude but then proceeds to cheat on her fiancé and use the hero for sex for most of the book. But then rebuffs him because he makes illegal gin, but then sneaks away and has more sex with him behind his brother’s back.
* hero is such a good guy (sarcasm) and wrongly accused of being a rake and seducing his brother’s first wife. To prove he’s such a good guy the author has the mains meet cute be him having sex with a married woman, and then he proceeds to seduce his brother’s fiancée, repeatedly. But he’d never sleep with his brother’s wife like that, he’s honourable. I’m all for a dubious hero but trying to reason away his bad behaviour and making him a victim when he’s doing all the things he was accused of is some crafty mental gymnastics on the author’s part. I did not buy it.
* heroine and hero meet while hero is screwing a married women, ok gross, but then he proceeds to flirt with her and have a conversation while HIS DICK IS STILL IN SAID OTHER WOMAN. 🤮 This had no purpose to the story, this ow was nobody, and all this did was confuse the narrative that he was actually a good guy. Because he wasn’t.
*the hero’s justifications for running an illegal gin still were flimsy. The author should have just made him morally grey and stopped trying to explain away all his bad behaviour. I will root for a bad man all day long, but don’t try to make me think he’s good and misunderstood, when he really isn’t.
*the side characters were also assholes. Her fiancé and her brother notably, they were fine with marrying her and keeping her unhappy. Her fiancé strikes her across the face and her loving brother is ok with proceeding with the wedding. But don’t worry, all is forgiven by the end.
*this author keeps pretending to write epilogues but actually only gives us teasers to her next book.
I am going to read her next book because it has a pirate in it and he seems delicious. Even if his name is Mickey..I’ll try not to picture the mouse.
July 16, 2015
Worth a read, but my least favorite Hoyt book so far (3.5 stars)
Notorious Pleasures was not as bad as I at first thought it would, but it definitely doesn't compare to the other books I've read by this author. This is my fifth Elizabeth Hoyt book since I started reading her three weeks ago and so far, it is my least favorite. By no means bad, but it didn't have the something extra that most of her others did.
Separately, I liked her lead characters, with our hero, Griffin, easily taking the lead. While yes, he's a rake, he's actually not that much of a bad boy and from the beginning is quite decent. He loves his family, does what he has to to support them, and definitely has a conscience, which usually the bad-boy heroes don't at the beginning. He was charming, sweet, and smart, and all-in-all a very likable hero. He's very honest in his emotions and is not one of those romance heroes who shies away from his feelings, lashes out at the heroine, has commitment issues, etc. And the scene where he tells Hero he loves her ...! Let me tell you, he is welcome to climb through my window anytime ! So basically yes, he's a dreamboat ;-).
Hero took a little longer for me to warm up to. We first met her in Wicked Intentions and in that book, she was already very likable, if somewhat boring. When she's given her own story here, we're shown how difficult it is to be the daughter/sister of a Duke and how she carefully controls her actions and comments, trying to be the perfect society lady that she needs to be. She comes off as three-dimensional and I like that even when Hoyt has a pretty or beautiful heroine, that's not what we read about very five sentences. She continued to be likable, but very often her self-righteousness and lack of a spine had me rolling my eyes a little. I was pleasantly surprised when she actually did do the right thing towards the end and go to Thomas, Griffin's brother, but then later, she becomes a complete coward when Griffin confesses his feelings. I wanted to slap her upside the head ... or tell her to give him to me, lol.
While both characters were (for the most part) likable and appealing on their own, and while I could understand how as people would be good for one another - opposites attract and all - I just did not feel the spark. I didn't really understand the immediate attraction and oh lord (!) if I have to read one more time about Hero's diamond eyes I am going to scream! Also, because their whole romance basically involves them running around behind Thomas's back, it was almost ill-fated from the beginning for me - I really can't stand any cheating/adultery aspect in my romances. That their whole relationship develops so secretly and in bits and pieces ... I don't know, I didn't feel the depth of a true love romance - there was something missing.
As others have said, the gin aspect didn't really add anything in my mind. It was interesting and I think could have added to the story, but in the end it just felt like a ploy for conflict and to add a subplot.
Accuracy Issue?
One slight annoyance for me was the fact that Griffin has his own title, "Lord Reading," which he shouldn't since his older brother is a Marquess. Maybe I'm mixing up the nobility rules here, but I'm pretty sure that's correct ...?
Bottom Line
By no means a bad book and worth a read, but I'm glad I got it from the library and in contrast to the other Hoyt books I've read, I will not be buying my own copy. I'm happy I read it because the Maiden Lane series is pretty tied together, so although we don't see Temperance and Lazarus in this book, a lot of the supporting characters reappear. Most importantly (IMO), we get a few more pieces of Silence and Mickey's story, as a hint of what's to come!
Maiden Lane Series
Book 1 - Wicked Intentions (5 stars)
Book 2 - Notorious Pleasures (3.5 stars)
Book 3 - Scandalous Desires (expected publication Sep 22, 2011)
I absolutely cannot wait for Silence and Mickey's book ( Scandalous Desires ) and just thinking about it puts a ridiculous grin on my face :-D. I'm also curious to know who the Ghost of St. Giles is (I think it's , but could be wrong) and I'm very much hoping that Phoebe gets her own story. I don't know how to write this without it sounding very wrong, but I think a blind heroine could be very interesting; I've only read that in a couple romances and I think Hoyt could write a really terrific love story with Phoebe as our heroine.
Notorious Pleasures was not as bad as I at first thought it would, but it definitely doesn't compare to the other books I've read by this author. This is my fifth Elizabeth Hoyt book since I started reading her three weeks ago and so far, it is my least favorite. By no means bad, but it didn't have the something extra that most of her others did.
Separately, I liked her lead characters, with our hero, Griffin, easily taking the lead. While yes, he's a rake, he's actually not that much of a bad boy and from the beginning is quite decent. He loves his family, does what he has to to support them, and definitely has a conscience, which usually the bad-boy heroes don't at the beginning. He was charming, sweet, and smart, and all-in-all a very likable hero. He's very honest in his emotions and is not one of those romance heroes who shies away from his feelings, lashes out at the heroine, has commitment issues, etc. And the scene where he tells Hero he loves her ...! Let me tell you, he is welcome to climb through my window anytime ! So basically yes, he's a dreamboat ;-).
Hero took a little longer for me to warm up to. We first met her in Wicked Intentions and in that book, she was already very likable, if somewhat boring. When she's given her own story here, we're shown how difficult it is to be the daughter/sister of a Duke and how she carefully controls her actions and comments, trying to be the perfect society lady that she needs to be. She comes off as three-dimensional and I like that even when Hoyt has a pretty or beautiful heroine, that's not what we read about very five sentences. She continued to be likable, but very often her self-righteousness and lack of a spine had me rolling my eyes a little. I was pleasantly surprised when she actually did do the right thing towards the end and go to Thomas, Griffin's brother, but then later, she becomes a complete coward when Griffin confesses his feelings. I wanted to slap her upside the head ... or tell her to give him to me, lol.
While both characters were (for the most part) likable and appealing on their own, and while I could understand how as people would be good for one another - opposites attract and all - I just did not feel the spark. I didn't really understand the immediate attraction and oh lord (!) if I have to read one more time about Hero's diamond eyes I am going to scream! Also, because their whole romance basically involves them running around behind Thomas's back, it was almost ill-fated from the beginning for me - I really can't stand any cheating/adultery aspect in my romances. That their whole relationship develops so secretly and in bits and pieces ... I don't know, I didn't feel the depth of a true love romance - there was something missing.
As others have said, the gin aspect didn't really add anything in my mind. It was interesting and I think could have added to the story, but in the end it just felt like a ploy for conflict and to add a subplot.
Accuracy Issue?
One slight annoyance for me was the fact that Griffin has his own title, "Lord Reading," which he shouldn't since his older brother is a Marquess. Maybe I'm mixing up the nobility rules here, but I'm pretty sure that's correct ...?
Bottom Line
By no means a bad book and worth a read, but I'm glad I got it from the library and in contrast to the other Hoyt books I've read, I will not be buying my own copy. I'm happy I read it because the Maiden Lane series is pretty tied together, so although we don't see Temperance and Lazarus in this book, a lot of the supporting characters reappear. Most importantly (IMO), we get a few more pieces of Silence and Mickey's story, as a hint of what's to come!
Maiden Lane Series
Book 1 - Wicked Intentions (5 stars)
Book 2 - Notorious Pleasures (3.5 stars)
Book 3 - Scandalous Desires (expected publication Sep 22, 2011)
I absolutely cannot wait for Silence and Mickey's book ( Scandalous Desires ) and just thinking about it puts a ridiculous grin on my face :-D. I'm also curious to know who the Ghost of St. Giles is (I think it's , but could be wrong) and I'm very much hoping that Phoebe gets her own story. I don't know how to write this without it sounding very wrong, but I think a blind heroine could be very interesting; I've only read that in a couple romances and I think Hoyt could write a really terrific love story with Phoebe as our heroine.
February 7, 2020
3.5
reseña completa: https://masromance.blogspot.com/2020/...
Una lectura muy entretenida en la que ha sobresalido el personaje masculino.
Griffin es una sorpresa que evoluciona desde el libertino traicionero desde el que parte la primera escenas hasta todo lo que se esconde detrás del personaje,
Tra suna primera escena espectacular!!! todo gira en torno a ese personaje.
Ella me ha convencido menos, una mujer demasiado estricta que se salta a la torera todo lo socialmente establecido a la primera de cambio, de forma algo brusca y ya sabemos que a esta autora le van mucho las escenas hot y no siempre son relevantes y necesarias (eso me ralentiza la lectura) y le ha restado una estrella, porque creo que todo gira demasiado en torno a ese aspecto de la relación
El tema del hermano muy, muy, muy, muy desaprovechado, he llegado a pensar que tendría historia propia, pero he leido los argumentos de toda la serie (algo que me ha hecho spoilearme a mí misma de mala manera) y no, el tema se cierra aquí.
Por lo demas, aventuras muchas.
Seguiré con la serie, para mí, por ahora, bastante entretenida
reseña completa: https://masromance.blogspot.com/2020/...
Una lectura muy entretenida en la que ha sobresalido el personaje masculino.
Griffin es una sorpresa que evoluciona desde el libertino traicionero desde el que parte la primera escenas hasta todo lo que se esconde detrás del personaje,
Tra suna primera escena espectacular!!! todo gira en torno a ese personaje.
Ella me ha convencido menos, una mujer demasiado estricta que se salta a la torera todo lo socialmente establecido a la primera de cambio, de forma algo brusca y ya sabemos que a esta autora le van mucho las escenas hot y no siempre son relevantes y necesarias (eso me ralentiza la lectura) y le ha restado una estrella, porque creo que todo gira demasiado en torno a ese aspecto de la relación
El tema del hermano muy, muy, muy, muy desaprovechado, he llegado a pensar que tendría historia propia, pero he leido los argumentos de toda la serie (algo que me ha hecho spoilearme a mí misma de mala manera) y no, el tema se cierra aquí.
Por lo demas, aventuras muchas.
Seguiré con la serie, para mí, por ahora, bastante entretenida
October 15, 2016
Oh dear lord. Lord Griffin Reading you are one cocky bastard aren’t you. That and a dirty talker. His kisses, his touches and his whispers had Lady Hero’s lady parts all a flutter.
Notorious Pleasures was another fabulous story by Elizabeth Hoyt. I absolutely loved it. Just as much or if not more than Wicked Pleasures. Griffin Reading was shameless. Or so one thought. And Lady Hero appeared perfect even though her thoughts and desires were impure.
When their paths cross neither thought highly of the other. But that didn’t seem to stop the craving that came to be. With one kiss, one rather fucking HOT kiss, there would be no turning back.
I’ll be moving on to the next one in this series for sure. I am looking forward to more from this author.
April 23, 2018
5 STARS!
Griffin, Lord Reading works hard to keep his family's finances in the black, but he couldn't care less about what society thinks of him. Life is something to be lived and he takes his pleasure when and where it pleases him.
I can't recommend it enough!
"Most men at least pretend to be abashed when caught in wrongdoing, but you - you strut about like a feckless cockerel."My historical kick continues with the fabulous Elizabeth Hoyt!
Griffin, Lord Reading works hard to keep his family's finances in the black, but he couldn't care less about what society thinks of him. Life is something to be lived and he takes his pleasure when and where it pleases him.
"For me, true love would be a complete and utter catastrophe."As the sister of a Duke, Lady Hero is the very picture of a poised and dignified woman. She knows her role and plays it to perfection . . . unless she's in the same room as her fiance's brother, Griffin, who would try the patience of any sane woman.
She tilted her chin, feeling a thrill of excitement - she'd never before argued with a gentleman.These two were awesome together! The way their relationship went from trading insults...
"Is your wig growing tight?" she asked politely....to passion...
"What?"
"Because I would think your swelled head would make it quite uncomfortable."
She should leave. Except...she wanted with all her heart to stay. To meet him on equal ground - just this once. To be a woman to his man....to love...
It was a terrible sorrow, a welling joy, as if all the emotion she'd ever held in check or pushed away was suddenly rising to the surface....was masterfully done. I honestly loved every minute I spent reading this book. One moment I was laughing, the next holding my breath, and the next gasping, "No!
I can't recommend it enough!
October 15, 2016
Gin, gin, gin...and more gin. A gin saturated plot about gin distillers, gin sellers, and the gin drinking masses. And politicians trying to get rid of all the gin.
Hero was a good heroine, intelligent, clever, fearless, and able to portray the role of a perfect lady. Only sour point is her preachy nature on gin, that the poor would all sober up & be wonderful if only there was no more gin. Like they wouldn't find something else to replace gin.
Griffin appears to be an utterly worthless rake, and while that's half true, he's also the hidden backbone of the family, that no one appreciates.
Hero & Griffin spark at their first encounter, trading insults & verbally sparring. But Hero is engaged to Griffin's older brother, Thomas, who has the personality of a store mannequin. So it's no wonder she's attracted to vivacious Griffin. Problems ensue from there.
Hero was a good heroine, intelligent, clever, fearless, and able to portray the role of a perfect lady. Only sour point is her preachy nature on gin, that the poor would all sober up & be wonderful if only there was no more gin. Like they wouldn't find something else to replace gin.
Griffin appears to be an utterly worthless rake, and while that's half true, he's also the hidden backbone of the family, that no one appreciates.
Hero & Griffin spark at their first encounter, trading insults & verbally sparring. But Hero is engaged to Griffin's older brother, Thomas, who has the personality of a store mannequin. So it's no wonder she's attracted to vivacious Griffin. Problems ensue from there.
December 6, 2021
loved everything except how hero and heroine meet
like can we NOT have a hero meeting heroine mid-thrust to other women
I love the action, plotline, writing, side characters...but what's up with characters' names?
Is Elizabeth Hoyt Jay Crownover of the HR genre?
3,5⭐
like can we NOT have a hero meeting heroine mid-thrust to other women
I love the action, plotline, writing, side characters...but what's up with characters' names?
Is Elizabeth Hoyt Jay Crownover of the HR genre?
3,5⭐
March 18, 2024
A favourite couple where h is betrothed to H's brother. She falls for flirty H, and as private and good person, she struggled to understand her actions. Clever H is the key to his family's financial success but he hid an awful secret. Love their steamy relationship and their moral ambiguities felt very real.
July 15, 2012
Absolutely loved this book and although it’s only the second book in the Maiden Lane series, I’m really hooked!
I adore Hero and Griffin and love the risque opening scene in which they meet for the first time, particularly as she has no idea who he is! I thought the part where Griffin jumps up and dives under the settee was hilarious. I kept picturing that in my mind.
They are so right together and, although very different in many ways, they share a great love of classical history. It’s a case of opposites attract and I thought Griffin’s bread and butter analogy fitted perfectly. How could Hero not fall in love with Griffin? Maybe he’s not handsome but he has a wicked sense of humour and he’s honest about himself and doesn’t pretend to be something he isn’t. But behind his roguish facade is a man who works tirelessly to provide for his family whom he cares for very much.
This is a complete contrast to his brother, Thomas, Marquess of Mandeville. He appears above reproach but secretly lusts after his former mistress, the highly unsuitable Mrs Tate. He’s neither honest with himself or Hero. Yet, when Hero tells him that she’s slept with his brother, his behaviour shows just how hypocritical he is. He never once considers that he may be wrong about Griffin seducing his first wife, Anne. To me he is totally unappealing although I did sort of understand his character a little more when he and Griffin have their heart to heart towards the end of the book. But I still think Elizabeth Hoyt was very generous in letting Thomas have a HEA.
Hero starts out as the perfect lady and, as the daughter of a Duke, she’s only too aware of her duty to make an advantageous marriage. From the time she meets Griffin, you see her struggle between duty and love. Luckily, as in all good historicals, love wins the day. It’s not an easy journey though because they have a lot heart-searching to do and there are plenty of potholes on the way, not least of all, Hero’s brother, Maximus, Duke of Wakefield.
He appears austere and totally wedded to his duty but I think that underneath that forbidding exterior he does have a heart. I feel he really cares about Hero’s feelings when he questions whether she is really happy with her engagement and gives her a chance to change her mind. I hope that Elizabeth Hoyt has a heroine waiting in the wings who will shatter his ordered world!
Elizabeth Hoyt manages to write such fabulous love scenes – erotic without being tawdry in any way. We are certainly treated to a variety in this book as Griffin demonstrates his lovemaking prowess in the bedroom....library......carriage.......etc. Definitely no complaints from Hero or this reader!
Griffin’s involvement in gin distilling doesn’t exactly endear him to Hero who has seen the evil effects of gin through her patronage of the foundling home. To make matters worse, Maximus has an almost obsessive hatred of gin distillers and is determined to see them captured and hung. His obsession has its origins in the murder of his parents in St Giles when Hero was very young. (Does anyone else wonder what his parents were doing in St Giles when they were supposed to be attending the theater? I don’t think we’ve heard the last of this mystery).
Griffin is threatened not only by the authorities but also by a rival, the Vicar of St Giles. I love a good fight especially when the hero is in grave danger. This book has a great climax with lots of action, help coming from an unexpected source and one plucky lady proving once and for all that she truly loves Griffin!
I can’t wait to read Scandalous Desires because there is a steady build up in this book in connection with Silence and Charming Mickey. It isn’t hard to guess who the presents for Mary Darling are from but more intriguing is the final gift for Silence herself. Then there’s the fact that Charming Mickey is obviously watching Silence from a distance. It all has me very intrigued!
I like Phoebe, Hero’s sister, and Megs, Griffin’s sister, and hope they get their own books.
My Griffin Reading - Brendan Frazer
My Lady Hero Batten - Kate Winslet
Hogarth's contemporary etching entitled 'Gin Lane' shows the evils of drinking gin
Contemporary etching showing poverty in St Giles
For full review see:
http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
I adore Hero and Griffin and love the risque opening scene in which they meet for the first time, particularly as she has no idea who he is! I thought the part where Griffin jumps up and dives under the settee was hilarious. I kept picturing that in my mind.
They are so right together and, although very different in many ways, they share a great love of classical history. It’s a case of opposites attract and I thought Griffin’s bread and butter analogy fitted perfectly. How could Hero not fall in love with Griffin? Maybe he’s not handsome but he has a wicked sense of humour and he’s honest about himself and doesn’t pretend to be something he isn’t. But behind his roguish facade is a man who works tirelessly to provide for his family whom he cares for very much.
This is a complete contrast to his brother, Thomas, Marquess of Mandeville. He appears above reproach but secretly lusts after his former mistress, the highly unsuitable Mrs Tate. He’s neither honest with himself or Hero. Yet, when Hero tells him that she’s slept with his brother, his behaviour shows just how hypocritical he is. He never once considers that he may be wrong about Griffin seducing his first wife, Anne. To me he is totally unappealing although I did sort of understand his character a little more when he and Griffin have their heart to heart towards the end of the book. But I still think Elizabeth Hoyt was very generous in letting Thomas have a HEA.
Hero starts out as the perfect lady and, as the daughter of a Duke, she’s only too aware of her duty to make an advantageous marriage. From the time she meets Griffin, you see her struggle between duty and love. Luckily, as in all good historicals, love wins the day. It’s not an easy journey though because they have a lot heart-searching to do and there are plenty of potholes on the way, not least of all, Hero’s brother, Maximus, Duke of Wakefield.
He appears austere and totally wedded to his duty but I think that underneath that forbidding exterior he does have a heart. I feel he really cares about Hero’s feelings when he questions whether she is really happy with her engagement and gives her a chance to change her mind. I hope that Elizabeth Hoyt has a heroine waiting in the wings who will shatter his ordered world!
Elizabeth Hoyt manages to write such fabulous love scenes – erotic without being tawdry in any way. We are certainly treated to a variety in this book as Griffin demonstrates his lovemaking prowess in the bedroom....library......carriage.......etc. Definitely no complaints from Hero or this reader!
Griffin’s involvement in gin distilling doesn’t exactly endear him to Hero who has seen the evil effects of gin through her patronage of the foundling home. To make matters worse, Maximus has an almost obsessive hatred of gin distillers and is determined to see them captured and hung. His obsession has its origins in the murder of his parents in St Giles when Hero was very young. (Does anyone else wonder what his parents were doing in St Giles when they were supposed to be attending the theater? I don’t think we’ve heard the last of this mystery).
Griffin is threatened not only by the authorities but also by a rival, the Vicar of St Giles. I love a good fight especially when the hero is in grave danger. This book has a great climax with lots of action, help coming from an unexpected source and one plucky lady proving once and for all that she truly loves Griffin!
I can’t wait to read Scandalous Desires because there is a steady build up in this book in connection with Silence and Charming Mickey. It isn’t hard to guess who the presents for Mary Darling are from but more intriguing is the final gift for Silence herself. Then there’s the fact that Charming Mickey is obviously watching Silence from a distance. It all has me very intrigued!
I like Phoebe, Hero’s sister, and Megs, Griffin’s sister, and hope they get their own books.
My Griffin Reading - Brendan Frazer
My Lady Hero Batten - Kate Winslet
Hogarth's contemporary etching entitled 'Gin Lane' shows the evils of drinking gin
Contemporary etching showing poverty in St Giles
For full review see:
http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
February 18, 2018
Another Scrumptious Read in Elizabeth Hoyt's "Maiden Lane" series!
Lord Griffen Reading (Lord Shameless) takes pleasure where it's to be found. In the first chapter we find him in a illicit "meeting" with a married woman. The man is a rake.
That is until Lady Hero Batten (Lady Perfect) brings him to his knees. She changes his ambitions and desires wanting him to be a better man and worthy of her. He desperately wants under her skin when he discovers she is newly engaged to his pompous brother, Thomas.
The two provide an incredibly sexy story!
I loved every detail, moment of suspense, tenderness, mercy and ecstasy.
Having listened to the audiobook the British accents were extremely captivating and I didn't want the story to end.
Lord Griffen Reading (Lord Shameless) takes pleasure where it's to be found. In the first chapter we find him in a illicit "meeting" with a married woman. The man is a rake.
That is until Lady Hero Batten (Lady Perfect) brings him to his knees. She changes his ambitions and desires wanting him to be a better man and worthy of her. He desperately wants under her skin when he discovers she is newly engaged to his pompous brother, Thomas.
The two provide an incredibly sexy story!
I loved every detail, moment of suspense, tenderness, mercy and ecstasy.
Having listened to the audiobook the British accents were extremely captivating and I didn't want the story to end.
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